Darfield Crime Rate January 2026 | Monthly Statistics

Darfield’s crime rate for January 2026 stood at 7.8 per 1,000 residents, placing it 14.7% above the UK average of 6.8 per 1,000. This built-up area within Barnsley reported 58 total crimes, with violence and sexual offences (20 cases) accounting for 34.5% of all incidents, followed by anti-social behaviour (9 cases) at 15.5% and burglary (6 cases) at 10.3%. These figures align with patterns typical of medium-sized towns where community cohesion and local policing efforts can influence crime trends. The seasonal context of January—post-holiday lulls, reduced retail activity, and shorter daylight hours—likely contributes to the distribution of crime types observed, with fewer outdoor crimes and a focus on domestic and interpersonal incidents. Violence and sexual offences, though lower than in previous months, remain high compared to the UK average, with rates 8% above national benchmarks. Anti-social behaviour also exceeds the UK average by 29%, suggesting persistent challenges in managing community tensions or addressing nuisance-related incidents. Burglary, at 186% above the UK average, indicates vulnerabilities in property security that may require targeted interventions. These statistics underscore the need for continued attention to both immediate crime prevention and long-term community engagement strategies.

The most dramatic month-on-month shift in January 2026 was the 100% increase in shoplifting, which rose from zero to one incident. This spike contrasts sharply with the 33.3% decline in other theft, which fell from three to two cases. The rise in shoplifting, though minimal in absolute terms, may signal seasonal fluctuations or localized factors affecting retail premises during the post-holiday period. Meanwhile, violence and sexual offences decreased by 16.7% compared to December, dropping from 24 to 20 cases—a reduction that could reflect the impact of colder weather on outdoor activities or the effectiveness of targeted policing efforts in high-risk areas. Burglary, however, remained significantly above the UK average, with rates 186% higher than the national benchmark of 0.3 per 1,000. This disparity highlights Darfield’s particular challenges in property crime prevention, linked to its built-up character and the concentration of residential properties within a larger municipal area. Public order offences also rose by 25%, increasing from four to five cases, which may indicate ongoing pressures in public spaces or the need for enhanced community oversight in key locations.

Darfield’s crime rate in January 2026 (7.8 per 1,000) marked a 6.5% decline from the previous month’s rate of 8.3 per 1,000, indicating a modest but measurable downward trend. On a daily basis, the area recorded approximately two crimes per day over the 31-day period, a figure that, while locally relevant, does not directly compare to national daily averages due to the absence of UK-wide data. When scaled to the population of 7,470 residents, the monthly exposure translates to one reported crime for every 129 residents—a statistic that provides a tangible sense of the frequency of incidents within the community. This rate, though lower than the previous month, still places Darfield above the UK average, emphasizing the need for sustained local initiatives to address persistent crime drivers. The 1-in-129 resident ratio underscores the importance of community-based crime prevention, particularly in areas where property crimes and anti-social behaviour remain elevated. While the overall rate has decreased, the disparity in specific categories—such as burglary and anti-social behaviour—remains a focal point for local authorities seeking to align Darfield’s crime profile more closely with national benchmarks.